Independent Study

Students with special interests they wish to pursue, and who can demonstrate both sufficient preparation and a capacity to work productively on their own, may apply for independent study, either English 295 or English 395.

Please note: Neither English 295 nor English 395 count toward the course requirements for the major.

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors with particular interests or needs may take 295 for 1 to 4 credits, provided suitable directors for the proposed projects are available

Juniors and seniors who have devised projects in literary criticism and scholarship, or in creative writing and journalism, and who can demonstrate strong preparation and ability in the chosen area, may take 395 for 4 credits. Students should discuss their ideas for projects with appropriate faculty members in the department with whom they would like to work. In most cases, students should seek out faculty with whom they have already taken one or more courses. A proposal form listing a possible advisor, along with a sample paper, must be submitted to the English department during the advising period prior to the semester in which the project is to be undertaken. (Students studying abroad may handle this via email.) While the department will try to find advisors for students who have not already reached an agreement with a potential advisor, there is no guarantee a student will be allowed to undertake an independent project. Again, preference will be given to students who can demonstrate thorough preparation for their proposed project, normally through successful completion of course work at the 300 level.

Seniors who have shown promise in a semester of 395, and who meet the College requirement of a 3.00 grade point average, may, with the approval of the director of the project, continue the independent work for an additional 4 credits, with a view toward writing a thesis to be submitted for honors. Application forms for English 295 or 395, are available in the English department office, and, again, must be filled out (usually in consultation with the student's major advisor) and returned to the department during preregistration. Information on submitting and formatting a thesis can be found on the LITS Archives & Special Collections Web site.